Michael Faraday

• Nineteenth century English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday is credited with giving us the first definition of a British thermal unit. Faraday, who was a bookbinder before he turned to science, is also credited with the discovery of electromagnetic rotations, electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism and the magneto-optical effect.
  
  

Btu Applications

• British thermal units are often used to compare and measure the amount of energy required for heating and electricity generation. Btus are used primarily in the heating and air conditioning industry, but also in the power and steam generation industries as well.
  
  

Formal Definition

• The formal definition of the British thermal unit was updated by the British Engineering System in 1956. The change was prompted by the fact that the original definition was dependent on the initial temperature of the water. According to the new definition, a single Btu is approximately equal to 252 gram calories or 1,055 joules.